Sexually transmissible infections - overview

Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are common all around the world. They may be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. You may think that only other people get STIs and that you are not at risk of catching one, but anybody who is sexually active can be infected if they do not practice safe sex. You can't tell just by looking at a person that they have an STI. If you have unprotected sex with a person infected with an STI, you are at high risk of catching that infection.

Sexually transmissible infections include chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes, scabies, pubic lice (crabs), hepatitis and HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).

It is recommended that you talk to your doctor about having a check–up, even if you do not have any signs or symptoms of an STI.

The symptoms can vary

There are many different STIs and there are many signs that mean you may have caught one. Sometimes there are no signs at all. Common symptoms can include:

* Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
* Pain during sex or urination
* Sores, blisters, ulcers, warts or rashes in the genital area
* Itchiness or irritation in the genital area
* Persistent diarrhoea.
* Fever, flu-like symptoms.

STIs are passed on during sex

The most common sexual activities that can spread an STI from one partner to another include:

* Vaginal sex – the man's penis in the woman's vagina.
* Anal sex – the man's penis in the partner's anus (the partner can be either male or female).
* Oral sex – the man's penis in the partner's mouth, or the partner's mouth or tongue in the woman's vagina.
* Oral-anal sex – one partner's mouth or tongue on the other partner's anus.

Condoms and dams help prevent infection

It is not difficult to avoid catching STIs. You can prevent most STIs by using barrier protection such as condoms, female condoms and dams (a thin piece of latex placed over the anal or vulval area during oral sex).

Most people are familiar with condoms for men. The female condom is a 14cm, prelubricated sheath that fits loosely into the vagina and can be put in up to eight hours before sex. Female condoms should not be used together with male condoms because the friction between the two may cause the condoms to break. Dams are rectangular sheets of latex, which can be used to cover the vagina or anus to prevent the exchange of bodily fluids during oral sex. They are sometimes called dental dams because they are also used during dental surgery.